Marcel Desailly has thrown his support behind Vinicius Junior, urging the Real Madrid forward to take charge in the battle against racism in football.
Speaking out on the issue, the French World Cup winner called for tougher action from authorities and a stronger push for change.
Desailly, who played for top clubs like Marseille, AC Milan, and Chelsea, said the abuse Vinicius has received is unacceptable. “Vinicius has been treated unfairly,” he said. “He should and must be the leader of this movement to eliminate racism in stadiums.”
The former defender stressed that modern technology like stadium cameras makes it easier to identify offenders, leaving no excuse for inaction. He also praised Vinicius for using his influence to demand support and push for reform.
Reflecting on past cases like Samuel Eto’o’s, Desailly pointed out how little was done back then, but insists times have changed and racism must no longer be ignored.
“A player who has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or should not be racially discriminated against in a stadium,” Desailly concluded.
